Black and White
First of all, I would like to apologize for my tardiness on updating the chappie :( I'm sorry, It was just I can't find the time to write these past months since my homework and exams start to pile around me like there is no tomorrow x_x
Butt.. despite all of that, I hope that my readers are still with me ;) Thank you for those who are patiently waiting for my updates :D Please enjoy the story! Hope you like it ;D
-Sorry for bad grammar and tenses-
Disclamer : I do not own Gakuen Alice
Chapter 16 : Ready
"It's great to feel the outside air after such a long time coped up in the hospital!" exclaimed Mikan, stretching her arms out while letting the wind blowing softly on her long hair.
Seeing the happy expression on Mikan's face bring a ghostly smile to Ruka's lips. "Well, I'm glad that you are finally discharged, Mikan."
Mikan turned around and smiled. "Yeah, and its just the two of us, like old times."
Ruka chuckled, sitting down on the verge of the hill, looking forward to the beautiful scenery. "Please take a seat, My Lady. We are going to spend our time together again just like old times," said Ruka, winking.
Mikan laughed freely, both of her hazel eyes twinkling with happiness. "Yes, yes. Of course, My dear, bravest Knight. I will spend my precious time with you," replied Mikan, taking a seat right beside Ruka.
Ruka arched his eyebrow. "Precious? How precious is your time?"
Mikan chuckled. "What do you think?"
Ruka pretend to think. "Hmm. I think it is not so precious."
"It is precious Ruka!" Mikan replied back, hitting Ruka lightly on the shoulder in the process.
Ruka laughed. "Yes, yes, My Lady. It is precious, as precious as you."
"You are such a sweet talker, Ruka," said Mikan, laughing with him.
"Well, a pretty girl like you always make my mouth sprout out things like that," retorted Ruka, smiling.
Mikan chuckled. "Whatever you say, smooth talker."
Ruka laughed again, before letting out a long sigh, his expression turned into a serious one, although his body posture seems relax. "What will you do, Mikan? I know that you want to give yourself to the Queen just so we won't have to fight."
Mikan throw a sad smile at Ruka. "You know me too well, Ruka."
"You can't do that." Ruka replied in a firm voice.
"I know, I know. You guys won't let me." Mikan said, chuckling lightly. "So, I think I would just train really hard so I would be some use in the fight with the Queen."
Ruka frowned. "You already train hard enough."
Mikan shook her head. "No, I still think it isn't good enough. I need to get stronger and faster. Moreover, my nullification Alice isn't at its fullest power yet." She answered softly, fiddling with her fingers. "I want to help, Ruka. Please don't hinder me doing that," said Mikan again, looking staright to Ruka's gentle azure eyes.
Ruka sighed. "Alright Mikan. I'll let you do as much as you want. Just promise me something. That you will take care of yourself."
Mikan nodded and beamed happily at Ruka. "Thank you so much. I promise I won't let anyone hurt me."
Ruka chuckled and ruffled Mikan's head. "Good girl."
"Little girl." A heavy, husky voice that she came to know well enough said.
Mikan turn on her bed, facing to the door towards the figure who just entered and closed the door slowly.
Mikan arched her eyebrow, throwing a questioning look at the crimson eyed man while sitting up and straightening herself. "What's wrong, Natsume-san?"
Natsume growled. "Drop the suffix, little girl. Stop calling me like a stranger."
Mikan grinned a bit. "Then you should call me by my name too."
Natsume rolled his eyes. "Stop acting childish, Polka."
"You are the one who should stop doing that." Mikan retorted, chuckling.
"Tch. Whatever." He briefly replied, sitting on the corner of her bed. "I came here to tell you something."
"What is it?"
"You will take care of Aoi and only fight when needed."
"What?! No!" Mikan shouted, her hazel eyes widens. "I absolutely don't want that. Stop hindering me from helping all of you! Please! It's my problem."
Natsume look at Mikan boringly, not showing any emotion even a bit. "You will only be a burden, Polka. You aren't accostumed to a war like this. You better off with Aoi."
Mikan pursed her lips into a thin line while glaring menacingly at Natsume. "I am as capable as you in fight, Natsume."
"If you are capable, then why did you admitted to the hospital on the last fight?"
"As far as I know, it is you who ask us to fight. I tell you not to fight."
"But you still got wounded, Polka."
"Well, you can't blame me. I'm protecting you for goodness sake!" Mikan half shouted frustatedly.
There is an unreadable emotion flicker in both of Natsume's eyes as he scooted closer, cupping Mikan's cheek with his right hand, making the girl all flustered.
"W-what are you doing?" Mikan stuttered, trying to inch back again, but her back already hit the wall.
"Polka." Natsume said in husky voice, his fiery eyes looking straight at Mikan's hazel one. "Do you believe me if I said that I'm concerned about you?"
Mikan is flabbergasted as soon as she heard Natsume's statement. Somehow she can't say anything although her mouth open and close like a fish out of the water.
"I don't want you to fight. It's enough for you to protect me like that on the last fight. You are lucky enough that the sword didn't gave you fatal wounds, but perhaps next time you won't be so lucky again," continued Natsume in a whisper.
There are no sound at all for a moment, before Mikan finally snap out from her shock state and push Natsume away gently.
"Are you drunk, Natsume?" Mikan ask in the same whispering voice.
Natsume arch his eyebrow. This girl is really unbelievable. "Do I look like I have been drinking, Polka?"
Mikan shook her head. "No, but you are acting weird."
"I know." Natsume blow out a silent sigh. "And I won't be like this again, so listen to me, little girl. Okay?"
"Are you sure you are Natsume? Not some imposter?" Mikan ask, frowning.
"Quit being stupid, Polka." Natsume grumbled, standing up. "You know that it's me."
Mikan bit her lower lip. "I don't know what made you like this, but I won't listen to you," said Mikan, lifting up her chin and stare at Natsume stubbornly.
"If you don't listen to me, I'll make you," threatened Natsume, glaring at Mikan.
Mikan snorted. "I don't care. Do as you wish and I do as I wish."
"No one disobey my order, Polka," growled Natsume in a low voice, his eyes blazing like fire in the night.
"Now I do." Mikan retorted smugly.
Natsume gritted his teeth, but he doesn't say anything, instead, he just glare at Mikan for a few seconds before turning away and walk out from her room.
Mikan slumped down on her bed, thinking about how Natsume acted just now.
Its weird, really weird for her arch enemy to act like that. It doesn't make sense.
Mikan sighed. Well, perhaps she would sleep this day away, hoping that all the strange things she has experienced will turn out to be a dream.
"Mikan, Mikan, wake up!"
Mikan groaned, opening her bleary eyes. "What is it?" She mumbled, still trying to open her heavy eyes.
"They attack."
Hearing the statement making Mikan eyes go wide in an instant. "What?" She blurted out, finally notice that the one who woke her up was no other than Ruka.
Although the lightning in Mikan's room isn't that good, she could still see that Ruka has a solemn expression on his face.
"What? How it could happen? What time is it now?" Mikan rambled, getting up from her bed and started to change her clothes.
Ruka, despite the urgent situation, blush out of embarassment seeing Mikan change, as he quickly turn around and avert his eyes while trying to keep his straight face.
"I don't expect an ambush like this at 2 in the morning. We don't expect this at all," answered Ruka, eyes on the door. "I don't know that Queen Luna could be this smart, making a sudden attack when we aren't ready at all." He said through gritted teeth.
"You can turn around, Ruka. I have finish changing." Mikan said, slightly smiled.
"Next time please give me a warning first, Mikan," scolded Ruka, before grabbing Mikan hand and start to pull her out from the bedroom.
"Where are we going?"
"To a safe place." Ruka answered briefly and start to drag Mikan out from the house.
"Where is it?"
Ruka slightly smiled. "You will know later."
Ruka and Mikan walk through the empty village of the Black Tribe.
Looks like everyone already evacuated themselves.
They keep walking and walking, through the forest, across the river and a wide, wooden bridge, until they arrive in front of a big stone cave, hidden behind big trees and thick bushes.
"We will hide here?" Mikan ask while looking around, staring at a few bats who fly away.
"You, will hide here. Natsume-san will bring Aoi later on." Ruka answered, opening a big blanket and put it down on a dry surface.
Mikan pouted. "It's not fair, I want to help too. This is my fight anyway."
Ruka sighed. "Its too dangerous Mikan. They are all experienced fighter, we don't want another victim fall on our side."
"Another? We.. we have elves fall on our side?" Mikan ask in a voice above whisper.
Ruka pursed his lips, he seems like hesitating for a moment, before finally answering in a low voice. "Yes. It is an ambush afterall. But luckily the guards on the border are as ready as ever. They alert us in no time and I think its a good thing that the Black Tribe is used to a war condition that they react so quick with a cool head."
"How many?" Mikan asked, trying to be strong.
Ruka fidgets uncomfortably. "Only one, Mikan."
"Who has fallen Ruka? This is all my fault," whispered Mikan, tears brimming on her eyes.
Ruka take a step towards Mikan, holding both of her shoulder as he looks deep into her hazel ones. "Do you know Beth?" He asks back in a gentle voice.
Mikan starts to shake, now her tears fall freely on both of her cheeks. "Beth? Beth Skylar? No Ruka, please no! Tell me you are lying! She is too young to die! She was just 7 years old!" Mikan scream while shaking badly.
"Mikan!" Ruka scolded in a soft voice, holding her in his arms while she starts to sob loudly. "Please Mikan, it's not your fault."
"No! Tell me you are lying Ruka, please!" begged Mikan, looking at Ruka with teary eyes.
Ruka look at Mikan with sad eyes, shaking his head slowly. "Beth has passed away, Mikan. She was shot by one of Queen Luna's army," whispered Ruka. "She was in a wrong playground. She played in the forest, where the army first attacked."
"She is only a child, they killed a child, Ruka!" Mikan wailed, her tears running uncontrollably.
"Shh Mikan shhh.. Please calm down. We are trying to slaughter all of the army right now, and I can't help them if you are in unstable condition like this," said Ruka, rubbing Mikan's back in a comforting motion while lifting her up and put her on the blanket.
"No Ruka. I want to kill them, I want to kill the killer!"
"Mikan." Ruka said in a stern voice, snapping her out from her misery. "Stop this. You are mature enough, you can think about vegeance later on okay? Right now you need to take care of yourself because I can't be here any longer since I must go to the fight. I can trust you to protect yourself and watch out for Aoi, can't I?"
Mikan sniffed, wiping her tears with the back of her hand and nodded slowly. "A-Alright, Ruka. I can do it." She whispered.
"Good. I should go now, see you later okay?"
"Be careful."
Ruka half smiled. "Of course. I'll be back here in no time." He replied while vanishing behind the trees and bushes.
Newroz : I'm glad to see you too ;) I hope that you enjoy this chapter though :D Thank you for leaving such a sweet review!
Derp1Derp2 : well... I still can't decide about that truthfully LOL. I think I will choose what would I do with Luna later on when we have reached the action part ;D hahaha It's good to see you again though, thank you for leaving such an amazing review for me!
Anilissa : Yes! That's right, things are gonna get messy in a few chapters ahead XD I think I will answer your question in the chapter, sweety ;D Thank you for leaving a review and still staying with me! :DD
Well I guess that a warp for this chapter, see you on the next one then!
Aquabluemarine
PS : Please mention it to me if you found any misspelled words or anything that goes wrong with my tenses or grammar :) Thank you!